Setting up printers

When users want to print a report, they can select a printer that you set up without needing to know its network address details.

When you create a printer entry, ensure that the printer you define is set up on the computer where IBM Cognos is installed.

To set up printers, you must have the required capabilities to access IBM Cognos Administration functionality. You must have write permissions for the Cognos namespace, see Secured Functions and Features.

To avoid possible errors, ensure that the following conditions are met before you try printing:

• Ensure that Adobe Reader is installed on each computer where IBM Cognos servers are installed.
• Ensure that the IBM Cognos server is started using an account that has access to the network printer.

  Sometimes, system accounts may not have access to network printers.

• If IBM Cognos is installed on a UNIX operating system, ensure that the command lpstat -v, returns a configured printer and that a printer variable is defined.
• When you define the network address for the printer in IBM Cognos Connection, use the following syntax:

  For Microsoft Windows operating system, use \\server_name\printer_name.

  For a UNIX operating system use printer_name, which is the print queue name displayed by the lpstat -v command.

• The network name must match the print queue name in lp.
• Ensure that IBM Cognos users have the correct access permissions to the printer.

The role Directory Administrators must have all access permissions granted, and the group Everyone must have read, execute, and traverse permissions granted.

Tip: To check or assign access permissions for a printer, in the Actions column, click the set properties button for the printer, and then click the Permissions tab.